Blinn agricultural science students volunteer more than 1,100 hours at Washington County Fair

More than 100 students volunteer at special needs livestock judging, and 4H and FFA dairy judging

September 27, 2016

The Blinn College Agricultural Science Club dedicated more than 1,100 hours to helping the 148th Washington County Fair entertain thousands of attendees.

More than 100 students combined to provide support for the Special Needs Livestock Judging Competition, the 4-H and Future Farmers of American (FFA) livestock and dairy judging contest, open Steer and Heifer show, and the open Brahman show.

Blinn College Agricultural Club student Jaci Burgin (dark blue shirt) was one of more than 100 Blinn students to volunteer at the 148th Washington County Fair.

At least 80 Blinn students have volunteered at Washington County Fair each of the past nine years.

“We always prioritize getting students outside of the classroom to experience the agriculture industry from a practical standpoint,” said Bryn Behnke, Assistant Dean for the Division of Agricultural & Natural Sciences.

The 4-H/FFA dairy judging contest at Washington County Fair remains one of the largest in the state, attracting more than 1,100 participants each year.

During the 2015-16 school year, Blinn’s Ag Science Club totaled 5,500 hours of community service. The club partnered with the 4-H, FFA, Coastal Conservation Association of Texas, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and the Texas Extension Service.

“When we are trying to sell Blinn College to future students, there is no better spokesperson than these kids when they go out and volunteer,” Behnke said.

All 20 students enrolled in Blinn’s Veterinary Technology Program volunteered at the fair as well. With the supervision of Program Director David Sessum and Dr. Amanda Kieffer, Instructor, the students collected urine samples for commercial heifers, turkeys, commercial pen heifers, colts, lambs, goats, steer, commercial halter heifers, and carcass hog shows.

Blinn’s Agricultural Sciences Program offers course seating for approximately 1,100 students, making it roughly four times the size of any other two-year agricultural program in the state. Blinn offers agricultural science classes on all of its campuses, with the W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex in Brenham serving as the program’s hub.

In addition to its excellence in the classroom, Blinn offers extracurricular educational activities in the areas of livestock judging, agriculture club, wildlife, agriculture mechanics, horticulture and agriculture sciences. For more information on Blinn’s Agricultural Sciences Program, visit: www.blinn.edu/agriculture.